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AML 3.2.1

In this module, the terms and abbreviations listed in the table below have the following meanings:

AML Means either "anti-money laundering" or this Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Sanctions module, depending on the context.
Authorised Person Means an Authorised Firm or an Authorised Market Institution.
Beneficial Owner

(1) In relation to a customer, means a natural person who ultimately owns or controls the customer or a natural person on whose behalf a transaction is conducted or a business relationship is established, and includes:

(a) in relation to a body corporate, a person referred to in AML Rule 7.3.3 (2) or (4);
(b) in relation to a foundation, a person referred to in AML Rule 7.3.5 (2) or (3); and
(c) in relation to a trust or other similar legal arrangement, a person referred to in AML Rule 7.3.6 (2) or (3).

(2) In relation to a beneficiary of a life insurance or other similar policy, means a natural person who ultimately owns or controls the beneficiary.

body corporate

Any body corporate, including a limited liability partnership, whether constituted under the law of the DIFC, an Emirate, the State or any other country or territory.

Branch Means a place of business within the DIFC:
(a) which has no separate legal personality;
(b) which forms a legally dependant part of a Relevant Person whose principal place of business and head office is in a jurisdiction other than the DIFC; and
(c) through which the Relevant Person carries on business in or from the DIFC.
Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2019 Means Federal Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2019 on the Implementing Regulation of Federal Law No. 20 of 2018.
Cabinet Decision No. 20 of 2019 Means Federal Cabinet Decision No. 20 of 2019 regarding Terrorism Lists Regulation and Implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on the Suppression and Combating of Terrorism, Terrorist Financing and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Related Resolutions.
Client Has the meaning in chapter 2 of the Conduct of Business module.
company service provider Means a person, not falling into parts (1)(a) to (e) or (g) of the definition of a DNFBP that, by way of business, provides any of the following services to a customer:
(a) acting as a formation agent of legal persons;
(b) acting as (or arranging for another person to act as) a director or secretary of a company, a partner of a partnership, or a similar position in relation to other legal persons;
(c) providing a registered office, business address or accommodation, correspondence or administrative address for a company, a partnership or any other legal person or arrangement; or
(d) acting as (or arranging for another person to act as) a nominee shareholder for another person.
Contract of Insurance Has the meaning in GEN Rule A4.1.1.
CTF Means counter-terrorist financing.
customer Unless otherwise provided, means:
(a) a person where, in relation to a business relationship between the person and a Relevant Person, there is a firm intention or commitment by each party to enter into a contractual relationship or where there is a firm commitment by each party to enter into a transaction, in connection with a product or service provided by the Relevant Person;
(b) a Client of an Authorised Firm;
(c) a Member or prospective Member of, or an applicant for admission of Securities to trading on, an Authorised Market Institution;
(d) in relation to a Single Family Office, a member of the Single Family; or
(e) a person with whom a Relevant Person is otherwise establishing or has established a business relationship.
Customer Due Diligence (CDD) Means the measures referred to in AML section 7.3.
Designated Non-Financial Business or Profession (DNFBP) Means:
(1) The following class of persons whose business or profession is carried on in or from the DIFC:
(a) a real estate developer or agency which carries out transactions with a customer involving the buying or selling of real property;
(b) a dealer in precious metals or precious stones;
[deleted]
(d) a law firm, notary firm, or other independent legal business;
(e) an accounting firm, audit firm or insolvency firm;
(f) a company service provider; or
(g) a Single Family Office.
(2) A person who is an Authorised Person or a Registered Auditor is not a DNFBP.
DIFC entity Means a legal person which is incorporated or registered in the DIFC (excluding a registered Branch).
Domestic Fund A Fund established or domiciled in the DIFC.
Employee Means an individual:
(a) who is employed or appointed by a person in connection with that person's business, whether under a contract of service or for services or otherwise; or
(b) whose services, under an arrangement between that person and a third party, are placed at the disposal and under the control of that person.
Enhanced Customer Due Diligence Means undertaking Customer Due Diligence and the enhanced measures under Rule 7.4.1.
FATF Means the Financial Action Task Force.
FATF Recommendations Means the publication entitled the "International Standards on Combatting Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation" as published and amended from time to time by FATF.
Federal AML legislation Means all U.A.E Federal Laws and their implementing regulations relating to money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of illegal organisations, as well as sanctions compliance, including Federal Law No. 20 of 2018, Federal Law No. 7 of 2014, Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2019 and Cabinet Decision No. 20 of 2019.
Federal Law No. 20 of 2018 Means U.A.E Federal Law No.20 of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations.
Federal Law No. 7 of 2014 Means U.A.E Federal Law No. 7 of 2014 on Combating Terrorism Offences.
FIU The Financial Intelligence Unit of the U.A.E.
Financial Institution A regulated or unregulated entity, whose activities are primarily financial in nature.
Financial Services Regulator Means a regulator of financial services activities established in a jurisdiction other than the DIFC.
foundation Means a foundation established under the DIFC Foundations Law 2018 or under any other law.
Governing Body Means the board of directors, partners, committee of management or other governing body of:
(a) a Body Corporate or Partnership; or
(b) an unincorporated association carrying on a trade or business, with or without a view to profit.
Group Means a Group of entities which includes an entity (the 'first entity') and:
(a) any parent of the first entity; and
(b) any subsidiaries (direct or indirect) of the parent or parents in (a) or the first entity; or
(c) for a legal person which is not a body corporate, refers to that person and any other associated legal persons who are in an equivalent relationship to that in (a) and (b).
Illegal Organisation An organisation the establishment or activities of which have been declared to be criminal under Federal AML legislation.
IMF The International Monetary Fund.
International Organisation Means an organisation established by formal political agreement between member countries, where the agreement has the status of an international treaty, and the organisation is recognised in the law of countries which are members.
Law Means the Regulatory Law.
legal arrangement Means an express trust or any other similar legal arrangement.
legal person Means any entity other than a natural person that can establish a customer relationship with a Relevant Person or otherwise own property. This can include companies, bodies corporate or unincorporate, foundations, anstalten, partnerships, associations, states and governments and other relevantly similar entities.
Member A person admitted as a member of an Authorised Market Institution in accordance with its Business Rules.
MENAFATF The Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force.
Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) Means the person appointed by a Relevant Person pursuant to Rule 11.2.1(1).
natural person Means an individual.
OECD The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
person Means a natural or legal person.
Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Means a natural person (and includes, where relevant, a family member or close associate) who is or has been entrusted with a prominent public function, whether in the State or elsewhere, including but not limited to, a head of state or of government, senior politician, senior government, judicial or military official, ambassador, senior person in an International Organisation, senior executive of a state owned corporation, an important political party official, or a member of senior management or an individual who has been entrusted with similar functions such as a director or a deputy director.

This definition does not include middle ranking or more junior individuals in the above categories.
Registered Auditor Has the meaning given to that term in the Regulatory Law
Regulated Exchange Means an exchange regulated by a Financial Services Regulator.
Regulated Financial Institution A person who does not hold a Licence but who is authorised in a jurisdiction other than the DIFC to carry on any financial service by another Financial Services Regulator.
Relevant Person Has the meaning given to that term in Rule 1.1.2.
senior management Means:

(1) In relation to a Relevant Person every member of the Relevant Person's executive management and includes:

(a) for a DIFC entity, every member of the Relevant Person's Governing Body;
(b) for a Branch, the person or persons who control the day to day operations of the Relevant Person in the DIFC and would include, at a minimum, the senior executive report or equivalent officer, such as the managing director; or
(c) for a Registered Auditor, every member of the Relevant Person's executive management in the U.A.E.

(2) In relation to a customer that is a body corporate, every member of the body corporate's Governing Body and the person or persons who control the day-to-day operations of the body corporate, including its senior executive officer, chief operating officer and chief financial officer.

Shell Bank A bank that has no physical presence in the country in which it is incorporated or licensed and which is not affiliated with a regulated financial group that is subject to effective consolidated supervision.
Simplified Customer Due Diligence Means Customer Due Diligence as modified under Rule 7.5.1.
Single Family Has the meaning given to that term in the DIFC Single Family Office Regulations.
Single Family Office Has the meaning given to that term in the DIFC Single Family Office Regulations.
source of funds Means the origin of funds which relate to a transaction or service and includes how such funds are connected to the source of wealth of a customer of Beneficial Owner.
source of wealth Means how the global wealth or net worth of a customer or Beneficial Owner is or was acquired or accumulated.
State Means the U.A.E.
Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Means a report regarding suspicious activity (including a suspicious transaction) made to the FIU under Federal Law No. 20 of 2018 and Cabinet Decision No. 10 of 2019.
transaction Means any transaction undertaken by a Relevant Person for or on behalf of a customer in the course of carrying on a business in or from the DIFC.
Derived from RM117/2013 [VER9/07-13]
[Amended] DFSA RM132/2014 (Made 21st August 2014). [VER10/06-14]
[Amended] DFSA RM156/2015 (Made 9th December 2015) [VER35/02-16]
[Amended] DFSA RM196/2016 (Made 7th December 2016). [VER13/02-17]
[Amended] DFSA RM223/2018 (Made 18th April 2018). [VER14/07-18]
[Amended] DFSA RM231/2018 (Made 6th June 2018) [VER15/07-18]
[Amended] DFSA RM258/2019 (Made 26th June 2019). [VER16/07-19]